For five sets, it went back and forth. Woodinville wanted it. Newport wanted it. Both teams dug deep and wouldn’t give in. But by night’s end, the Lady Falcons fell in five sets, (25-15, 21-25, 25-19, 19-25, 13-15).

“We’ve been working a lot on going for it,” Woodinville coach Andrea Roelen said. “Really pushing it and aggressively playing for that win… Tonight they fell just short, things just didn’t fall our way. But the girls fought and fought to the very end.”

Elyssa Olson, Danielle Morris and Colleen File during a tense moment in the action. (Photo by Derek Johnson)Woodinville started out the night in full command. Emma Daoud-Heber and Elaine Tarter had nice serves for aces. And with the Falcons leading 24-15, Janett Ramirez dove to the floor to save a shot, which resulted moments later in the winning point for the first set.

Woodinville also won the third set, with nice shots from Danielle Morris and Madison Lundquist finding soft spots in the Newport defense.

But Newport rallied to win the fourth and fifth sets, which enabled them to return to Bellevue victorious.

The loss left the Falcons with a 1-6 record in Kingco 4A, and 2-10 overall – good for eighth place. They conclude their season this Tuesday against North Creek at Woodinville High School. “What’s hard to convey in win-loss records this season, is how many sets we’ve been so close,” Roelen said. “We’ve gone four matches with some people, five with some people.”Roelen was asked which aspect of the team has developed the most since the season-opening loss to Everett on September 7.

Woodinville's Janett Ramirez serves against Newport. (Photo by Derek Johnson)“That’s a monster ques-tion and to pick one is very difficult,” Roelen said. “If you were to compare the Everett game to this game… I would say it has been resilience. Resilience in that even though we aren’t winning as many as we would like to, we keep fighting in these four and five game matches. That hasn’t been our history. Unfortunately we’ve had a losing history – and that’s no judgment. But this season we are going toe-to-toe and fighting hard, we have so many of our match scores that are two points away. We have fought and fought time and again, and we aren’t just giving up in three [sets].

“It’s one thing to win or lose, but to play as a team,” she said. “We’re trying to lay down a foundation where we believe in ourselves, we are a strong team and we are passionate and dedicated. And I couldn’t be prouder of who these girls have become as young women, as teammates and as ball players. I’m super proud and I couldn’t care less what the win-loss column says.”